Duo sparks C'burg's run

Duo sparks C'burg's run

By DAN SPEARS

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Chambersburg boys basketball coach Shawn Shreffler doesn't think he's a genius for inserting juniors Nate Wingerd and Danley Shank into the starting lineup right before the Trojans took off for a District 3 championship.

Just a copycat.

"We had just got to the point ... that we had to make a change," Shreffler said. "In our summer league, we played a team from Rockville - Magruder (who's currently undefeated and in the Class 4A semifinals) - that had five guys that could dribble and shoot. We looked at that and said we could do the same thing here."

New plan, new results for the Trojans (19-9), who stunned the Class AAAA field in the district to take its top seed for the playoffs, which begin Saturday against West Chester East at Gettysburg High School.

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The change in plan has also meant a whole new attitude for the Trojans' two new starters.

"Before when I was coming off the bench, I knew I was there to give the starters a blow and to spark the offense a little," Wingerd said. "But when I started starting, I knew I had to do that from the start of the game."

"I was real surprised about the first one," said Shank, who scored 11 points in his first starting role against Gov. Mifflin. "But everyone just said to play my game and to play as hard as I can."

Shank also scored 14 points in the Trojans' semifinal win over Hempfield, while Wingerd had a career day in the final against J.P. McCaskey, going 10-for-11 from the field and scoring 26 points.

In the biggest situations, the two had shown their toughness. Shreffler just wished it wouldn't have taken this long.

"The biggest thing they lacked (at first) was the aggressiveness to play at this level," Shreffler said. "We weren't as worried about Nathan, just because he had the skills, but hadn't shown the ability to battle night in and night out.

"And Danley ... well, just look at him, just how thin he is."

True, Shank more resembles a choirboy than a poster child for District 3 hoops. The JV import has left his opponents singing the blues, though.

"It's nice to see a lot of hard work paying off and to be able to play on a team like this," Shank said. "I really didn't expect much, just work hard and get a little playing time."

Wingerd, meanwhile, expected a little playing time. He - and Shank - have ended up taking a lot.

"This has been just awesome. To experience a district title, that's the greatest experience yet," Wingerd said. "And to be a part of it and contribute ... that's something you always dream of, to be out there when the buzzer goes off."